Edmund Ashfield (MP) facts for kids
Sir Edmund Ashfield (born around 1506 – died January 24, 1578) was an important English politician from Ewelme, Oxfordshire. He played a role in the government during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Who Was Sir Edmund Ashfield?
Sir Edmund Ashfield was the son of John Ashfield, who lived in Heythrop, Oxfordshire. In 1570, he was given the title of Sir (knighted), which was a special honor given by the monarch for service.
What Jobs Did He Do?
Sir Edmund held several important jobs in his lifetime. These roles helped him serve his local community and the country:
- Justice of the Peace: From 1547, he worked as a Justice of the Peace for Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. A Justice of the Peace was like a local judge or magistrate who helped keep law and order in the area.
- Surveyor of Crown Lands: In 1559, he became the surveyor of crown lands for Buckinghamshire. This meant he helped manage and look after lands owned by the King or Queen.
- High Sheriff: He was appointed High Sheriff for Berkshire and Oxfordshire from 1559 to 1560. Later, he was High Sheriff for Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire from 1569 to 1570. The High Sheriff was a very old and important role, responsible for law enforcement and carrying out court orders in a county.
Serving in Parliament
Sir Edmund Ashfield was also elected as a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person chosen to represent a specific area in the Parliament of England. Parliament is where laws are made and important decisions for the country are discussed.
- He represented the town of Wallingford in Parliament twice in 1554.
- He then represented the larger area of Oxfordshire in Parliament in 1559.
His Family Life
Sir Edmund Ashfield was married to Eleanor. She was the daughter of Humphrey Barton and had been married before. Sir Edmund and Eleanor had a son named Francis, who sadly passed away before his father. They also had three daughters, though two of them also passed away before Sir Edmund. His surviving daughter, Amicia (also known as Avis), inherited his property. She was married to a man named Edmund Lee.
